Bryce Dallas Howard (born March 2, 1981) is an American film actress and director. The daughter of director Ron Howard, she made her acting debut as an extra in her father's film Parenthood (1989) and went on to have small roles in films and make stage appearances for the next several years. During this time she also attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, later receiving a BFA and went to drama schools. After she came to the attention of M. Night Shyamalan, he cast her in what would be her breakout film, the psychological thriller The Village (2004) and then in the fantasy thriller Lady in the Water (2006). Her performance in As You Like It (2006), directed by Kenneth Branagh and based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare, earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination. In 2006, she co-wrote and directed the short film Orchids.